Mechanism for making nonrun, fabric



Mar h 12, 1935- R. A. THQVIERFELIVDYER ,9

v Original Filed Oct. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Shet l March 12, 1935. R. A. THIERFELDER 1,993,903 v MECHANISM FOR MIX KING NONRUN FABRIC I I Original Filed Oct. 17, 1932 4 Sheets- Sheet "2 I fig; j. v

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I 6W7? ZTTORNEY} March 12, 193 R. A. THIERFELDER 'MECHANISM FOR MAKING NONRUN FABRIC Original Filed Oct. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 12, 1935. R, A, THIRFELDER r MECHANISM FOR MAKING NQNRUN FABRIC Original Filed Oct. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q V 4 INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY;

I Patented Mar. 12, 1935 TE S ES PATENT or-tic:

signor to Phoenix Hosiery Company, Milwaukee, Wis" a corporation of Wisconsin Original application October 17, 1932, Serial No. 638,092. Divided and this application June 5, 1933, Serial No. 674,262

11 Claims.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 638,- 092, filed October 1'7, 1932, of which the present application is a division, I have shown, described and claimed a novel full-fashioned non-run 5 hosiery fabric and a method of knitting or producing the same.

The subject matter of the present application pertains to the apparatus or machine for.knitting or producing such fabric.

Among the objects of the invention as herein disclosed and claimed is the provision of anovel form of mechanismadaptable toa regular fullfashioned knitting machine whereby the non-run fabric of said co-pending application may be 15 readily and easily produced by that type of machine.

Another object of the invention of the present application is to provide a mechanism which when incorporated in a full-fashioned knitting 20 machine operates automatically in the operation of the machine to produce thev non-'runfabric. In other words, the mechanism forming the subject matter of the present application is so designed that it may be incorporated in the type 2' of machine referred to to automatically produce in the knitting operation of'that machine the novel loop arrangement which is incorporated in my improved fabric to produce the non-run effect.

30- A further'object of the'invention of the present application is to provide the said mechanism with means in association with the transfer points to so deflect the knitting needles of the machine at the proper sequence in the knitting 35 operation to engage the loops of the desired previously formed courses for the purpose of drawing or distending such loops into the courses of the shifted or displaced loops and to carry therewith portions of the displaced loops in the operation of the machine to provide the novel loop arrangement to produce the non-run fabric of my invention.

The invention also consists in the matters 45 hereinafter described and claimed.

v In the accompan in drawings:-

1 is a plan view on an exaggeratedscale of a portion of my improved and novelfabric, the non-run locking sections being in every third 50 course;

Fig. 2 is a similar view-showing the displaced. loops of a locking section extending to theleft of the distended or elongatedloops instead of to the right of such loops as'in Fig.- 1;-

3 is a similar view showing the non-run (CI. 66-96) v locking sections in every other..or alternate course;

Figs. 4 tot inclusive illustratediagrammatically the various steps of the method for producing a non-run locking section of my inven tion;. M Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the deflecting points of my invention are incorporated in. a. regular fullfashioned knitting machine for producing the fabric of my invention;

Fig. 8 shows the needle'assembly in front elevational view and in open or separated relation, the figure being taken online 88 ,of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive, show various positions of the needles and points in knitting a fabric of my invention; and v 4 i Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 17-.-17 of Fig. 14 to show adetailof construction to be hereinafter described. In. .the fabric shown '1, the non-run locking sections are in everythird courseand are repeated throughout the length of the fabric or throughout such portion of the fabric in which it is desired to incorporate said sections. The latterextend transversely of the fabric, preferably throughout the entire width thereof, and for identification herein are marked A, A 'in Fig. 1. The fabric comprises interlocking loops knitted in successive courses and wales, the courses extending across the fabric and the wales longitudinally thereof as well understood in this art. The locking sections A each comprise two courses of the interlocked loops and are thus crossed by all of the wales. Each section A comprises plain or regularly formed loops 1, laterally displaced or shifted loops 2 and elongatedor distended loops 3. The latter are plain loopsin the'previous course B extended to cupy the spaces left by the displaced loops 2;

In elongating the loops 3, a side portion 4'01? each associated displaced loop 2 is, carried with the distended loop to the bight thereof for interlocking connection with the plain loops of the next course C where they extend through the distended loops. The displaced loops overlap the adjacent regular or plain loops 1 and are also interlocked with the plain loops of the course C where such loops extend through the plain or regular loops of course A. -.This formation continues throughout the course A and locks each displaced loop 2 in the wales between which-it extends. In the. particular form of-knitting' shown in Fig. 1,,the displaced loops are locked in each two adjacent wales, this being brought" about by having the displaced loops alternate with the distended loop 3. Moreover, the distended loops 3 in one wale alternate with those in an adjacent wale, thereby having said loops re-occur at frequent intervals along each wale. With this arrangement distributed through the fabric, in every third course in Fig. 1, and in every other course in Fig. 3, the support for the loops in each. wale is extended into adjacent wales to prevent the release of the support for all of the loops in a wale should the thread break at any point in the wale. Should a break occur in a wale, it cannot continue beyond the first encountered distended loop 3 because the wale is there tied or connected with an adjacent wale by the displaced loop 2. Thus the wale in which the thread breaks is held from separating from its adjacent wales beyond the region of the break by the displaced loops 2 and a run is unable to occur. This is an important and vital feature of my invention and provides a non-run fabric so desirable for hosiery manufacture.

In Fig. 1 the displaced loops 2 in each course A are displaced to the right of the associated distended loops 3 throughout the fabric. In Fig. 2 I have shown the displaced loops 2 displaced to the left of the distended loops 3. Except for' the position of the displaced loops with respect to the distended loops, the knitting of the two fabrics is the same, the adjacent wales being interlocked by the displaced loops to provide a non-run structure.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the displaced loops 2 displaced to the right of the distended loops 3, the same as in Fig. 1, but the locking sections A, A of the fabric of Fig. 3 are arranged in 'every other or alternate course. This makes the distended loops 3 re-occur in each wale at more frequent intervals than the knitting of Fig. 1, with the result that a break in a wale is stopped earlier than in the Fig. 1 arrangement. In both cases, the run is stopped within a few courses and thus cannot continue to an extent sufficient to be destructive. In other words, the break is confined to the immediate region where it occurs and cannot-develop into a run to damage the hose or other garment made from the fabric. The displaced loops could be arranged otherwise than shown herein. They could extend to the right of the distended loops in one course and to the left in an adjacent course, or

this arrangement could be varied to suit the demands of the particular knitting pattern desired. In all cases, the non-run feature of my invention would be embodied in that the wales would be tied or connected together by the displaced loops as herein described. In all cases, the locking sections would be separated by at least one course of plain or regular loops from which the distended loops extend.

In Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, I have shown diagrammatically the method by which the fabric of my invention is produced. Two or more interlocking courses of regular or plain loops 1, 1, are produced in the usual manner of fullfashioned machine knitting. Certain of the loops of the last formed course, as for example, every other loop, are then shifted or displaced laterally and laid over the adjacent plain or regular loops as shown in Fig. 5, thus producing the displaced loops 2 of the foregoing description. This is performed mechanically and in the operation of the knitting machine by the use of the transfer mechanism to be presently described. The next step is to produce the distended loops 3 and carry therewith the adjacent side portion 4 of each displaced loop 2. This step is shown in Fig. 6. The plain or regular loops in the previously formed course and with which the displaced loops 2 are initially interlocked, are drawn from the course in which the said plain loops are formed into the course of the displaced loops to occupy the spaces left by the displaced loops. This is accomplished in the process of knitting the fabric and the side portion 4 of each displaced loop is carried with the distended loop by the needle which provides the distended loop. This is produced by deflecting the knitting needles from which the displaced loops have been shifted into engagement with the associated loops of the previously formed course and returning the needles to their normal positions in the last formed course. After this step, the knitting appears as in Fig. 6, and the next course of plain loops is produced and interlocked with all of the loops in the course containing the displaced and the distended loops. These steps are repeated throughout the knitting to provide the locking sections at such intervals as may be desired in the length of the fabric.

A form of mechanism or means for knitting the non-run fabric of my invention is shown in Figs. 7 to 17 inclusive. illustrated, this mechanism is embodied in a regular full-fashioned knitting machine having the bearded knitting needles 5, transfer points 6, co-operating sinkers and dividers 7, 8 and knock-over bits 9. The needles and points 5, 6 are carried by their respective bars or supports 10, 11 arranged one above the other and movable toward and from each other in the operation of the machine. The deflecting points 12 of my invention are carried by the bar 11 and are arranged between the transfer points 6, as shown in Fig. 8. This arrangement alternates the displaced loops 2 in each locking course or section.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a knitting needle in a descending position with a regular loop 1 thereon below its beard 13. This loop has been formed by the needle in the usual manner of fabric knitting and is interlocked with the other loops of the previously formed portion of the fabric as shown. To transfer the loop 1 from.

the needle 5 -onto an adjacent knitting needle, the usual transfer method is followed. This is accomplished by lowering the points 6 to a position in front of the knitting needles as shown'in Fig. 9, whereupon the knitting needles are pressed against the points 6 to close the beards 13 of the knitting needles as shown in Fig. 10. The points 6 have longitudinal grooves 14 to receive the beards of the associated knitting needles and the latter have longitudinal grooves 15 below the beards to receive the lower ends of the points 6. When the parts are in those positions, the needles and points 5 and 6 are lowered in unison through the operative mechanism of the machine and the loop 1 on needle 5 is transferred to the associated point 6 as shown in Fig. 11. Every other regular loop is so transferred that these loops and the previously formed portion of the fabric are held from downwardmovement with the knitting needles 5 as the points 6 enter the loops by the knock-over bits 9. The machine needles 5 between the points 6 are deflected out of the plane of needles by the protuberances 16 on the associated deflecting.

points 12 of my invention. These protuberances are outwardly extending hump-like portions at the lower ends of the points 12 and contact with the points and the needles are raised above the bits 9vand are separated :as shown'in Fig. 12.

the associated knitting'needles 5 as the points and the needles are.brought' together; The protuberanceslfi' deflect the needles '-5, the latter being-made of spring steel and thus resilient, out of their normal upright positions to approximately the; extentshown in'Figs. 10 and 11..

The beards 13 of these needles are not closed and they engage the loops which were previously formed on them in.the knitting of the regular Iii course of loops at the time the fabric was produced as,inFig.9.

After every other loop in the course has been transferred to the points- 6, as shown in Fig. 11,

Those loops between the transferred loops remain engaged with their respective knitting needies as indicated in this figure. I'he bar 11 is thenshifted endwise in the direction desired to ciated loops in the previously formed course of the fabric. The needles and points are then moved upwardly in unison to transfer the loops on the-points6 cnto the engaged knitting needies and tocause the empty-knitting needles to pass through the loops of the previously formed course, as shown in Fig. 14, the fabric beingheld against upward displacement by the sinkers and dividers -7 and 8. As the needles pass through the'loops the displaced loops are transferred to the selected knitting needles, thus putting two loops on every other knitting needle, as shown in Fig. 15, and positioning every other knitting needle with its beards above the loops of the previously formed course as shown in that figure. Then the bar 11 is raised, carrying its points 6 and 12 out of contact with the knitting needles and the knitting needles which have passed through the loops of the previously formed course are allowed to spring back to their normalfpositions in line with the knitting needles which have heretofore been in contact with .the .lodp shifting points. In springing back to their normalpositions, the deflected knitting needles carry the loops engaged therewith. and elongate or distend such loops into the course of the displaced loops to occupy the spaces left by such loops in the shifting or transfer operation. The machine then continues to knit .the desired number of plain loops before the nonrun locking section is repeated in the fabric in the same manner as just described, except that the barn is shifted to alternate the distended loops in alternate wales.

To provide proper contact of the projections 16 with the machine needles 5 on their grooved sides, the projections are made wider than the machine needles to span their grooves as shown in Fig. 17. To keep the needles and the projections engaged thereby in proper contact, the projections are grooved as at. 17 to receive the machine needles as shown. 7

While Ihave. shown and described an arrange-.

ment wherein certain o the knitting needles will be deflected for the purpose of engagement with loops of a previously formed course and to distend such loops in the manufacture of my improved non-run fabricsother means may be employed to displace these needles for this purpose and be within thespirit and scope of my invention. Moreover, I do not wish to be retricted or limited to any other 'of the details hereinishown and described, it being obvious that the same maybe variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. V

I claim as my invention: v

1. The method of knitting a non-run-fabric, consisting in forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales, and while knitting the fabric displacing certain of the loops by a transfer operation out of certain of the wales over loops in other wales and by a needle deflecting operation distending. the loops with which the displaced loops are initially interlocked into the spaces'left by the displaced loops and carrying therewith portions of the displaced loops to provide' non-run sections at intervals throughout the fabric.

2. The method of knitting a non-run fabric upon a full-fashioned needle knitting machine having. bearded knitting needles and co-operating transfer. points therefor, consisting in forming a course of loops by said needles in interlocking connection with a course of loops previously formed by said needles, shifting or displacing by said points certain of the loops of the last formed course from the needles making saidloops upon other of the needles of said course, and while applying .the displaced loops upon to engage the associated loops in the previously formed course and distend said loops and carry ing a course of loops by said needles in inter? the selected needles causingthe empty needles looking connection with a course of loops previously formed by said needles, shifting or displacing by said ppints certain of the loopsbi; the last formed course from the needles making said loops upon other of the needles of said course, and while applying the displaced loops upon the selected needles deflecting the empty needles to engage the associated loops of the previously formed course and portions of the displaced loops engaged therewith, a nd permit- I ting the deflected needles to spring back into the last formed course to carry the loops engaged thereby into said course, interlocking the loops of the next course with the displaced and the distended loops to provide anon-run section transversely of the fabric, and having said sections re-occur' at predetermined intervals 7 throughout the fabric. e I

4. Ina full-fashioned knitting machine, co-

operating rows of knitting needles and transfer points functioning in the operation of the machine to form successive courses of interlocking loops and shifting. or displacing certain of the loops of selected courses over other of the loops of such courses, and means acting on the needles from which the loops are displaced to engage said needles with loops in the previously formed course with which the displaced loops are initially interlocked to distend'said loops and portions of the displaced loops for interlocking connection with the next course of loops to provide non-run sections through the fabric.

5. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, cooperating rows of knitting needles and regular transfer points, said needles and points functioning in the operating of the machine to form successive courses of interlocking loops and displacing certain of the loops of selected courses over other of the loops of such courses, and deflecting points in the row of transfer points and having projections to deflect the knitting needles from which the displaced loops are shifted to engage loops in the previously formed courses to distend said loops and portions of the displaced loops for interlocking connection with the next course of loops to provide non-run sections throughout the fabric.

6. The method of knitting a non-run fabric on a needle knitting machine, consisting in forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales by the needles of the machine, and by a transfer operation incorporated in the machine laterally shifting certain of the loops of selected courses coursewise of the fabric and by a needle deflecting operation incorporated in the machine distending other of the loops walewise of the fabric while knitting the same to carry the support for the loops of selected wales into adjacent wales. v

7. The method of knitting a non-run fabric on a needle knitting machine, consisting in forming interlocking loops in successive courses and-wales by the needle's of the machine, and by a transfer operation and a needle deflecting operation incorporated in the machine providing in selected courses of the fabric while knitting the same an arrangement of cooperating laterally shifted and distended loops to carry the support for the loops of the respective wales into adjacent wales, the deflected needles on their 'release carrying the distended loops into the some courses as occupied by their cooperating shifted loops. 4

8. The method of knitting a non-run fabric on a needle knitting machine, consisting in forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales by the needles of the machine, and by a transfer operation and a needle deflecting operation incorporated in the machine providing in selected courses .of'the fabric while knitting the same an arrangement of cooperating laterally shifted and distended loops to carry the support for the loops of the respective wales into adjacent wales, the deflected needles on their release spreading" the shifted loops. and carrying the cooperating distended loops into the same courses as the shifted loops.

9. The method of knitting a non-run fabric on a needle knitting machine, consisting in forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales by the needles of the machine, and by a transfer operation and a needle deflecting operation incorporated in the machine and functioning during the knitting of the same to first laterally shift certain of the loops of selected courses from the respective wales into adjacent wales, and then deflecting the empty needles from which the shifted loops have beentransferred into the previously formed courses to engage certain of the loops of such courses to distend said loops on the release of the needles into the spaces left by the shifted loops and carrying therewith a side portion of each adjacent shifted loop. I

10. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, bearded spring knitting needles for forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales in the operation of the machine, transfer points for laterally shifting certain of the loops of selected courses from the respective wales into adjacent wales, and means for deflecting the empty needles from which the shifted loops are transferred into loops of the previously formed courses for distending said loops into the spaces left by the shifted loops on the release of the deflected needles.

11. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, bearded spring knitting needles for forming interlocking loops in successive courses and wales in the operation of the machine, transfer points for laterally shifting certain of the loops of selected courses from the respective wales into adjacent wales, and means for deflecting the empty needles from which the shifted loops are transferred into the previously formed courses whereby said needles when released by springing back to their normal positions will carry therewith the loops engaged thereby and associated portions of the shifted loops to bring the same into the spaces left by the shifted loopsr RUDOLPH A. THIERFELDER. 

